Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-07-13
MR.. CLEYBLAND'S LETTER

AS we predicted would be the case,
the president has Withdrawn his &C
ceptance of the invitation to be present
i'm st. Louis at the Grand Army ell
campment IN September. After refer
ing TO his acceptance of the invitation
he says: Immediately upon the public
announcement of this conclusion, ex-
pressiOns emanating from certain i'm
pOrtant members of the Grand Army
Of the Republic, and increasing in
volume and virIIlence, constrained me
to review my acceptance of these invi-
tations. The expressions refer d to go
10 the extent of declaring that l would
be an unwelcome guest at the time and
place Of the encampment. This state
ment is based as well as 1 can judge,
upon certain official acts of mine, in
vOlving important public interests,
done under the restraints and Obliga-
tions of my oath of Office, which do not
appear to accord with the wishes of
some members of the Grand Army of
the Republic. refuse to believe that
this organization, founded upon patri-
otto ideas, composed largely of men
entitled to lasting honor and cOnsidera-
ton, and whose browning glory it
should be that they are American citi-
Zens as well as veteran soldiers, deems
It part of it's mission to compass any
object or purpose by attempting to i'll
timidate the executive or cOerce those
charged with making and executing the
laws. And yet the expressions to
which l have referred indicate such a
prevalence of unfriendly feeling and
such a menance to an occasion which
should be harmonious, peaceful and
cordial, that they cannot be ignored. l
beg you to understand that 1 am not
conscious of any act of mine which
should make me fear TO meet the Grand
Army of the Republic. or any other as
semblage of my fellow-citizens. The
account Of my official stewardship is
always ready for presentation to my
countrymen. L should not be frank if
Il
all resentment, that L have been hurt
by the unworthy and wanton attacks
upon me growing out of this matter,
and the reckless manner i'm which my
actions and motives have been misrep-
resented both publicly and privately,
for which, however, the Grand Army of
the Republic, as body, is by no means
responsible.
"The threats of personal violence
and harm in case undertake the trip in
question, which scores of misguided,
unbalanced men under the stimulation
of excited feeling have made, are not
even considered. Rather than abandon
my visit TO the west and disappoint
your citizens, l might, if alone were
concerned, submit To the insult to which
1t is quite openly asserted 1 would be
helplessly subjected; but 1 should bear
with me there the peoples highest
Office, the dignity of which l must pro-
tect; and l believe that neither the
Grand Army of the Republic as an or
ganization, nor anything like majority
OF its members, would ever encourage
any scandalous attack upon it. If,
however, among the membership of
this body there are some, as certainly
seems to be the case, determined to de-
nounee me and my official acts at the
national encampment, 1 believe they
should bepermittcd to do so unrestrain.
ed by my presence as guest of their
organization, or as guest of the hos
pitable city in which their encamp.
ment is to be held"